Rusty Baker Films
News & Upcoming Events
Center Point showtimes at the Austin Film Festival
2 Showings! Director to Attend
Friday October 30, 2026 at 3:10pm
- Galaxy Theatre: Screen 5 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752
- https://2026austinfilmfestival.sched.com/event/2ZZGr/center-point
November 4, 2026 at 7:00pm
- Galaxy Theatre: Screen 5 6700 Middle Fiskville Rd, Austin, TX 78752
- https://2026austinfilmfestival.sched.com/event/2ZZGu/center-point
Winner! Rusty Baker won Best Director in a Documentary for Center Point by Flatland Film Festival
September 26, 2026: Center Point celebrated its World Premiere in West Texas at the Flatland Film Festival. Several fellow combat veterans and family members from Rusty Baker's old Lubbock Marine Reserve unit came to support the film and see what their old Sergeant Major has been up to since retirement.
Center Point (Documentary Short)
The Story
On July 4, 2025, a catastrophic flash flood surges along the Guadalupe River, tearing through the Texas Hill Country, killing 135 people and leaving widespread devastation in its wake. As the waters rise and chaos engulfs the town of Center Point, a small crew of volunteer firefighters mobilizes, rescuing dozens from the raging current and evacuating nearly 400 residents to higher ground.
In the aftermath, the Center Point Volunteer Fire Department continues to train, rebuild, and prepare for whatever emergency comes next—knowing the next call could come at any moment.
Director's Statement
In the aftermath of the devastating floods along the Guadalupe River, much of the public conversation centered on blame—who failed, what went wrong, and why more wasn’t done. Those are important questions. But as I followed the coverage here in Texas, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something essential was being overlooked. I went looking for the rest of the story. What I encountered, was a small group of local volunteers—unpaid, unassuming, and deeply rooted in their community—who stepped forward when the water rose. Without recognition or hesitation, they acted with clarity, skill, and compassion, helping to rescue neighbors and protect their town in the middle of chaos.